Beef Cattle Breeds

Angus Color: Black Origin: Scotland Traits: high carcass quality Polled Most registered breed

Hereford Color: Red w/white face Origin: England Traits: Polled or Horned Docile Good foragers

Charolais Color: white to light straw Origin: France Traits: Horned Large

Brahman Color: light gray to black or red Origin: India Traits: Hump Loose dewlap Resistant to insects Tolerant to heat

Chianina Color: white to steel gray w/black switch Origin: Italy Traits: Horned Black pigmented skin Tallest beef breed Heavy muscling

Dairy Cattle Breeds

Holstein Color: Black & white is most common (can also come in red & white) Origin: Europe (specifically Holland) Traits: Largest Dairy breed High feed efficiency Highest milk production

Jersey Color: light gray/mouse color to dark fawn/almost black Origin: British Isle of Jersey Traits: Smallest Dairy breed 2nd highest milk producer High butterfat production Docile

Ayrshire Color: Red & white Origin: Scotland Traits: High quality of udder Milk ideally suited for butter and cheese Strong & rugged Fewer leg & feet problems

Brown Swiss Color: grey, dark brown, tan or almost white Origin: Switzerland Traits: Big, floppy ears Docile

Guernsey Color: golden red & white Origin: British Isle of Guernsey Traits: Rick flavor of milk “Golden” color to milk (due to high butterfat, high protein content) High feed efficiency

Swine Breeds

American Landrace Color: white Origin: Denmark Traits: Long body Big loped forward ears Large litters Mothering ability

Duroc Color: red Origin: Eastern US, corn belt Traits: Drooped ears Fast growth rate High feed conversion

Hampshire Color: black w/white belt Origin: Southern Scotland and Northern England Traits: Erect ears Muscle & carcass leanness

Yorkshire Color: white Origin: England Traits: Erect ears Large litters High feed efficiency High growth rate Mothering ability Long carcasses

Poland China Color:  black with six white points (face, feet and switch) Points required  Origin: US Traits: Dropped ears Oldest American breed High feed efficiency Substantial bone Soundness Docile

Spotted Swine Color: black and white spots Origin: US Traits: Drooping ears Large breed Fast growth rate

Tamworth Color: golden red to dark red Origin: Ireland Traits: Erect ears Most desirable bacon-type carcass Long, straight snout Depth of side/deep bodied

Berkshire Color: black & white with white points Origin: England points not required Origin: England Traits: Erect Ears Juiciness, flavor and tenderness of meat, due to marbling High feed efficiency Excellent carcass quality

Chester White Color: solid white Origin: US Traits: Chester County, PA Drooped ears Mothering ability Durability Structural soundness Longevity Skin is easily removed during packing

Vietnamese Potbelly Color: White or black more common, but also red, gold, spotted Origin: Vietnam Traits: Used as pets Considerably smaller than farm pigs (100-300lbs) Can be used as service pets

Poultry Breeds

Chickens - Layers

White Leghorn Color: White Origin: Leghorn, Italy Traits: Lays White Eggs High egg production Good foragers Large comb & wattles

Rhode Island Red Color: Red Origin: US, RI Traits: Dual-purpose (eggs and meat) Lay brown eggs Hardy

Chickens - Broilers

Plymouth Rock Color: white, buff, barred Origin: US Traits: Hardy Docile Excellent meat (& egg) production

Cornish Color: dark, white, buff Origin: England Traits: Ultimate meat bird Broad, well-muscled body Protective mothering ability

Turkeys

Broad-Breasted Bronze Color: shimmering-green bronze/black Origin: US Traits: Commercial breeds must be bred by A.I. Docile Fairly rare now

Broad-Breasted White Color: white Origin: US Traits: Known for meat production Must be bred by A.I. More popular than BB Bronze Harder to handle/manage than BB Bronze

Beltsville Small White Color: white Origin: Beltsville, MD Traits: Meaty carcass Small enough to fit in average fridge

Royal Palm Color: White w/bands of black Origin: FL Traits: Ornamental bird Currently on the endangered “watch” list Docile

Other Poultry Breeds

Houdan Chicken Color: mottled, white Origin: France Traits: Mostly ornamental, but can produce eggs and meat 5 toes (chickens normally have 4) give them “skipping” gait

Silkie Bantam Color: Black, Blue, Partridge, Buff, White, Gray Origin: unknown, possibly China Traits: fur/silk-like feathers Topknots/crests on their heads & abundant feathers growing down their legs & middle toe 5 toes

Sheep Breeds

Goat Breeds

Horse Breeds

Llama Breeds

Other Breeds